Hansen Home for Hope Holiday Drop Off and Party
posted on Saturday, December 2, 2017
“This is my happy place,” said Makayla Wreitgraf, a cancer survivor and member of Children's Cancer Connection. “I always have so much fun when I am here.” Makayla joined 80 other children tonight at the Hansen Home for Hope Holiday Drop Off and party.
Now in its 4th year, the holiday party is an event that children and parents alike look forward to. While kids are kept busy with a night of fun and games, parents enjoy a night off to go Christmas shopping, run errands or perhaps even take in a date night, just Mom and Dad.
“It’s almost indescribable to have a partner like Jeff and Deb Hansen,” said Melissa Beaman, Director of Program Services for Children’s Cancer Connection. “The kids have so much fun. When they see the Foundation name on the invitation, they know it will be a fun event.”
At tonight’s party, children decorated (and of course, ate!) holiday cookies, made jingle bell necklaces, bracelets, and dazzling Christmas ornaments to hang on their trees at home. The night was capped with holiday sing-a-longs and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, who brought along enough presents for each boy and girl in attendance.
“Partnerships like this are so essential for us to be able to serve these families,” said Ernie Moore, a board member for Children’s Cancer Connection. “It’s more than just a donation. They genuinely care about the families we serve.”
In addition to a night of record-setting fun, the holiday drop off party set an attendance record, as well! “This is by far the most kids we’ve ever had in the house at one time,” said Sara Petersen, Program Manager with Children’s Cancer Connection. “It was crazy, for sure, but the good kind of crazy. We had so many first-time families tonight and the smiles were infectious. All of the kids just had so much fun.”
With Operation Christmas Meal yesterday, the holiday party today and Operation Christmas Meal “On the Go” in the coming weeks, we are in full holiday-cheer mode at Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. We are firm believers that it is better to give than receive and are excited for all that the month of December has in store!
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